Robert Capper
Robert Capper (1846-1899)
1900 Obituary [1]
ROBERT CAPPER, born on the 13th August, 1846, was the eldest son of the late Mr. Charles Capper, of Upton, Essex.
After being educated at Christ’s Hospital, he was from 1861 to 1869, with the exception of about two years, in the office of his father, who was at that time General Manager of the Victoria (London) Docks and Chairman of the Southampton Dock Company. During the two years above referred to the subject of this notice was engaged in South America, for Messrs. Peto, Betts and Company, on an expedition which had as its object the construction of a railway from the Pacific to the interior of Bolivia; and also in Spain and Portugal in connection with projects for railways and for a submarine cable.
On the death of his father, in 1869, Mr. Capper accepted the post of agent to the Company of African Merchants on the Gold and Slave Coasts, and was engaged in that capacity in West Africa until 1876, when he returned to this country and was appointed General Superintendent of Swansea Harbour, with its docks, railways and general estate. Mr. Capper held that office for eleven years, and then came to London.
In 1897 failing health compelled him to withdraw from active work, and he died at Broadstairs on the 31st August, 1899, at the age of 53.
Mr. Capper was elected an Associate of the Institution on the 3rd February, 1880. Ten years later he contributed to the Proceedings a Paper entitled “The Development of the Port of Swansea and Dredging a Deep Entrance Channel to Swansea Harbour.”